The corridors of South African football are abuzz with whispers of a financial scandal, a tale of two coaches, two vastly different contracts, and a staggering million-rand discrepancy. The spotlight is on Mamelodi Sundowns, the reigning champions of the DStv Premiership, and their handling of former head coaches, Johannes Jacobus Neeskens and Pitso Mosimane.
Recent court filings have revealed a startling disparity in the remuneration packages offered to these two footballing giants, sending shockwaves through the local football fraternity. The revelation came to light as part of a legal battle between Sundowns and Mosimane, who is demanding payment of his outstanding salary after abruptly leaving the club to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The documents, which include Neeskens' employment contract, paint a picture of lavish spending by Sundowns, a club known for its deep pockets and ambition. Neeskens, who joined the Brazilians in 2011, was paid a staggering €400 000 (R8-million) per annum, a figure that dwarfed the R2.640-million annual salary offered to Mosimane when he took over the reins as Mamelodi Sundowns Head Coach in 2012.
"As remuneration for the services to be rendered by the employee in terms of this agreement, the club shall pay to the employee an amount net of South African taxes and statutory levies equal to the rand equivalent of €400 000 (the “net remuneration”) for each 12-month period commencing on July 1 and ending on June 30 each year," reads Neeskens' contract.
The contract further details a meticulous payment schedule, with the club paying Neeskens in three instalments totalling the rand equivalent of €133 333 in August 2011, followed by ten monthly payments of €26 666.67 from September 2011 to June 2012.
Neeskens' contract also included a generous bonus structure, with the club paying him 10% of the prize money for every competition won. This included R400 000 for the Telkom Cup, R1-million for the Absa Premiership, $150 000 for the Caf Champions League, R800 000 for the MTN 8, and R600 000 for the Nedbank Cup. He was also entitled to a R10 000 bonus for winning a single game, plus an additional R3 600 for three consecutive wins.
Adding to the extravagance, Sundowns also provided Neeskens with accommodation, private transportation, and airline tickets, a package fit for a footballing king.
In contrast, Mosimane's initial contract, signed in December 2012, offered him a monthly salary of R220 000, amounting to an annual salary of just over R2.6-million. This represented a significant drop from Neeskens' package, a difference of at least R6-million.
Mosimane's salary was later bumped up to just under R600 000 when he signed his second contract with the club, which commenced in 2016. However, even with this increase, his salary remained at least R800 000 less than what Neeskens took home.
"As remuneration for the services to be rendered by the employee in the agreement, the club shall pay to the employee, on the last business day of each month, a monthly gross salary of R597 912," reads Mosimane's second contract.
The disparity in the contracts has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the rationale behind the significant difference in remuneration. Some speculate that the club may have been attempting to cut costs during Mosimane's tenure, while others suggest that Neeskens' contract was a product of a different era, when the club was willing to spend lavishly on high-profile coaches. The majority, however, believes that Neeskens was paid way more because he was a foreigner!
